Segment erectors for a tunneling machine



April 26, 1966 D. F. WINBERG 3,247,675

SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 962/61/75' A? W/MSEEG April 26, 1966 wm 3,247,675

SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORY.

0006145 F WIIV8RE fitnfi April 26, 1966 D. F. WINBERG SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1963 April 26, 1966 D. F. WINBERG 3,247,675

SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENT 01?. DOUGLAS A' Wl/YEE/P April 26, 1966 n. F. WINBERG SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE '7 SheetsSheet 5 Filed May 31, 1963 April 26, 1966 D. F. WINBERG 3,247,675

SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOEL 001/6446 F. W/NBERG April 26, 1966 D. F. WINBERG SEGMENT ERECTORS FOR A TUNNELING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 31, 1963 INVENTOR. POL 6114f F W/Nfiffif A rrolewn J United States Patent 3,247,675 SEGMENT ERECTGRS FGR A TUNNELING MACll-HNE Douglas F. Winberg, Bellevue, Wash, assignor to James S. Robbins and Associates, Inc., Eeattllc, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,710

r 21 Claims. (Cl. 61-84) The present invention relates to tunneling machines, and more particularly to a segment erector assembly for a shield-type tunneling machine characterized generally by a pair of substantially identical erector units, constructed and arranged to move within a common, annular zone of operation.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a segment erector assembly for a tunneling machine comprising a pair of erector units arranged generally side by side on a cylindrical support member and adapted for angular movement or rotation thereabout, with each erector unit including a boom portion overhanging a housing portion of the other erector unit, each said boom portion being constructed and arranged to move in substantially the same path of travel about the cylindrical support member when the erector units are revolved, and with said erector units also including carriage portions mounted on the said boom portions for longitudinal travel therealong between forward and rearward positions, and segment arm mechanisms carried by the carriage portions and constructed for in and out movement of a segment grip between extended and retracted positions. Preferably,'the cylindrical support member constitutes a tubular part of a means through which the mined material is removed from the vicinity of the cutterhead to be ultimately deposited onto a tunnel conveyor for transportation to a location outside the tunnel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tunneling machine wherein a segment erector assembly is mounted onto a cylindrical support member rigidly attached at its forward end to the cutterhead support portion of a shield assembly, wherein a conveyor tube extends into the rear end of said cylindrical support member and is universally mounted at its front end onto the cutterhead support closely adjacent the center thereof, and wherein a flexible connector interconnects between said conveyor tube and said cylindrical support member where the former enters the latter, such jointed arrangement of the tunneling machine permitting relative pivotal movement to occur between the shield assembly including the rotary cutterhead and the rear end assembly of the tunneling machine including the conveyor tube and other superstructure mounted on carriages which run on rails, so that the tunneling machine is usable for boring curved as well as straight sections of a tunnel.

Objects, features and advantages of the present invention involve the provision of a tunneling machine and erector mechanisms therefor wherein:

(a) The erector units of the erector assembly include generally annular housing portions encircling the generally cylindrical support member and mounted thereon for rotation thereabout by suitable bearing means, with a relatively large bull gear encircling the cylindrical support member at a location between the inboard ends of the generally annular housings, and with drive means including a pinion gear in mesh with the said bull gear extending laterally outwardly from said annular housing portions and serving to drive the erector units angularly around the cylindrical support member;

(b) The carriage portions of the erector units include roller or slide means extending outwardly from the sides thereof to slide or roll within tract means extending longi- 3,247,675 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 ICE tudinally of the booms, and the drive mechanism for said carriages comprises a rack bar attached to the boom and a motor-driven pinion gear carried by the carriage; and

(c) The segment arm mechanism includes bi-articulated arm members constructed and arranged to move a segment grip in and out relative to the carriage assembly substantially along a radial line.

These and other objects, features, advantages. and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of typical and therefore non-limitive embodiments thereof, wherein like letters and numerals refer to like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a small scale, side elevational view of the shield tunneling machine in operation, with the cutterhead and the cutterhead support presented in longitudinal section;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shield tunneling ma chine shown in FIG. 1, with the erector-s removed and with the erector tube broken away above the receiving conveyor for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the front face of the cutterhead, with parts of such cutterhead broken away to show the bull gear that is attached to the rear side of the cutterhead in mesh with two of the pinion gears which drive the same;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, such view presenting the erectors in rear elevation and the erector tube in cross-section;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 1, presenting a rear view of the hopper assembly and the support means therefor, and also presenting a cross-sectional view of the tunnel conveyor which receives the mined material from the hoppers and carries it out of the tunnel;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale elevational view of the erector tube portion of the tunneling machine, with the erectors removed, and with the major portion of the erector tube cut away to present a clear illustration of the conveyor tube extension and the universal mounting mechanism at the forward end thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale fragmentary plan View of the conveyor tube extension;

FIG. 8 is a large scale sectional view of the universal mounting mechanism taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 6, such View showing the mounting pin and a pair of bolts in side elevation while presenting the remaining portions of such mechanism in section;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged scale fragmentary side elevational view of the front erector unit, 'with portions thereof cut away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged scale fragmentary rear end elevational view of the front erector unit, with certain parts cut away for sake of clarity;

FIG. 11 is a view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG, 8 showing the segment grip mechanism in two positions of operation; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic showing of a typical transmission system for supplying electric power to the electric motors used for driving the various components of the erector units.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in more detail, the tunneling machine shown in FIG. 1 includes a shield 5 characterized by a generally cylindrical skin 10 having a nose section equipped with a cutting edge 12, which may be conventional per se; a tail section 14; and a transverse cutterhead support CS spanning the interior of the skin 10 intermediate the ends thereof. A rotary cutterhead C is mounted for rotation on the front side 16 of the cutterhead support CS, preferably by means of an annular bearing 18, as is more fully explained in the 3 copending Larrouze et al. application Serial No. 284,604 entitled Shield Tunneling Method and Mechanism, and filed May 31, 1963.

The front face of the cutterhead C is provided with appropriate knives or cutters, some of which are designated 20 for sake of example. The cutters 20 are placed at different distances from the center of the cutterhead C, and when the cutterhead C revolves such cutters 20 cut concentric grooves in the face of the tunnel, resulting in a complete breakdown of the face of the tunnel to the depth of the cut. The cutterhead C is revolved by means of a plurality of pinion gears, some of which are designated 22 in FIG. 1, for example, which mesh with the large bull gear 24 forming an integral part of the inner race 26 of the annular bearing 18 (FIG. 3). The said inner race 26 and the bull gear 24 are suitably attached to the cutterhead C, as by a series of nut and bolt assemblies, for example. The motive power is furnished by a plurality of motors M.

A plurality of buckets B, circumferentially arranged about the cutter carrying portion of the cutterhead C, open in the direction of rotation of the cutterhead C and pick up mined material from the ground during rotation and advancing movement of the cutterhead C into the working face of the tunnel. The buckets B have radially inwardly extending discharge chute portions, one of which is shown at 30 in FIG. 1, discharging the mined material onto a receiving station, preferably in the form of a receiving conveyor 32 located within an opening or passageway 34 extending through cutterhead support CS. A deflector or shield 34 is used to guide the mined material onto the conveyor 32. Conveyor 32 and shield 34 are both anchored on the cutterhead support CS and of course are not attached to the cutterhead C, which rotates about their front end portions. The conveyor 32, which is preferably constructed of metal pads linked together so as to be durable and able to resist the shock of the mined material falling on it from the chutes 30, feeds the mined material onto a longer conveyor 36 comprising an endless belt constructed of rubber or similar material. Conveyor 36 is encased partially within an erector tube 38 and partially within a conveyor tube 44} extending rearwardly out of said erector tube to communicate at its rearmost end with a hopper dome 42. An appropriate connector, suitably in the form of a flexible annular collar 44, interconnects between erector tube 38 and con veyor tube 40, serving a function described below. Within the enclosure of the hopper dome 42, conveyor 36 deposits the mined material into a hopper mechanism shown as including selectively usable hoppers H1, 1-12, from which the mined material is deposited onto a tunnel coneyor TC leading to a location outside of the tunnel.

The conveyor tube 40 includes a forward extension 46 which is universally mounted in the enclosure of erector tube 38 onto the cutterhead support CS by means of a spherical bearing 48 or the like (FIG. 6). The forward extension 46 of the conveyor tube 40 is somewhat frustoconical in shape and is truncated. A pair of laterally spaced tines 50, 52 extend forwardly of the front end of conveyor tube extension 46 and form a portion of the universal mounting means 48. Referring now to FIG. 8, the tines 50, 52 are shown supporting a large pin 54 between them on which is secured a generally annular bearing member 56 having a spherical peripheral surface. A second bearing member 58, carried by a support 60 connected to cutterhead support CS, surrounds member 56 and has .an inwardly facing spherical surface matching in curvature the outwardly facing spherical surface of said member 56. Bearing member 58 is located in an enlarged aperture 62 extending through the support 60 and is keyed or otherwise connected to support 60 to prevent it from rotating within the opening 62. A pair of retaining rings 64, 66 are located on opposite sides of mounting member 60 and are secured in place by a plurality of bolts 68, or the like. A suitable lubricant is supplied to the spherical surfaces by way of passageway 70 extending through pin 54 and bearing member 56 to the region of said spherical surfaces.

The rear end of the conveyor tube 40 merges into the hopper dome 42 forming a portion of the superstructure that is shown supported by laterally spaced carriages 72, having flanged wheels riding along rails 74, which rails are in turn supported and extended when necessary in accordance with conventional practice.

The tunnel is lined as it is dug, and the lining, designated generally at L and characterized by a series of axially abutting rings of circumferentially abutting segments, is erected generally in the wake of the shield S, but under cover of the tail section 14 of the skin 10. Mechanical means termed erectors, designated E1, E2 in the drawings, are used for handling the segments during erection of each new ring. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, erector E1 is shown to include a generally annular shaped housing 76 mounting a forwardly extending boom 78 for angular rotation about the erector tube 38. In similar fashion, erector E2 includes a rearwardly extending boom 89 mounted for angular movement or rotation about erector tube 38 by means of a generally annular housing 8 2. Measured end-to-end booms 78, 80 are of the same length. Due to the overhanging arrangement of boom 78 over housing 82, and boom 80 over housing '76, the said booms 78, 80 revolve in the same circular path. By means hereinafter to be described, carriages 84, 86 are mounted for lengthwise movement along booms 78, 80, respectively. Arm mechanisms 88, 90 are carried by carriages 84, 86, respectively, and segment grips 92, 94 are located at the ends of said arm mechanisms 88, 90, respectively. As hereinafter explained in more detail, the unique construction and arrangement of the booms 78, 80, the carriages 84, 86, and the arm mechanisms 88, 90 makes possible the movement of the segment grips 92, 04 substantially anywhere within a generally annular shaped zone encircling the conveyor tube 38 and of a width equal to the extent of longitudinal travel of carriages 84, 86 on booms 78, 80, respectively, and of a thickness equal to the extent of in and out movement allowed by the arm mechanisms 88, 90 measured from the tunnel lining L inwardly towards the carriages 84, 86.

The shoving, driving, or moving forwardly of the shield S and the rotary cutterhead C carried thereby is accomplished by means of hydraulic jacks or rams R (which are also termable thrust rams) attached to the shield structure and reacting against the tunnel lining previously erected. The hydraulic rams R are circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the cutterhead support CS contiguous the inner surface of tail section 14. In known machines the rams R are arranged so that when they are all either fully extended or fully retracted the front faces of their shoes 96 are located within the same transverse plane. In the arrangement disclosed, described and forming a-portion of the claimed invention in the aforementioned copending Larrouze et al. application Serial No. 284,604, the lowermost ram or rams R are set flush with the rear face of the cutterhead support and the other rams R are offset from such face by progressively increasing amounts proceeding from said lower ram or rams and extending upwardly on each side thereof. As explained in some detail in said copending Larrouze application Serial No. 284,604, the stairstep arrangement of the rams R makes it possible to move the shield S and the rotary cutterhead mounted thereon, forwardly while simultaneously erecting a new ring of segments onto the front end of the tunnel lining. For purposes of the present invention, the particular arrangement of the thrust rams may take any of several forms. including either of the forms described above.

If the rams R are all set flush with the rear wall of the cutterhead, the erection of a new ring of lining is generally as follows: Let it be assumed that the erection of a ring of the tunnel lining L has been completed. As the excavation for the next ring width is being made the shield is moved forwardly until it has advanced a distance equal at least to the width of a ring, and the piston rods are substantially fully extended. The machine is then stopped, and a plurality of adjacent piston rods (in sets of three, for example, the number being dependent on the size of the segments) are retracted into their cylinders, leaving a space between the rearwardly directed faces of such retracted pistons and the forwardly directed side of related portions of the last erected ring of the tunnel lining. Next, one of the segment erectors, say erector E 1, for example, is used for setting a new segment intoplace within said space. At the same time, owing to the construction of the segment erector assembly, this same procedure may be followed on the opposite side of the tunnel, with erector E2 being used for handling the segment. After the new segments are secured in place the pistons that were retracted to make room for such segments are extended slightly until they bear against the new segments and help to hold themachine and prevent its backward movement. This same overall procedure is repeated with respect to the next sets of adjacent rams and so forth up both sides of the tunnel until the ring is completed. After completion of the ring the pistons are extended in unison and the shield advanced an additional amount while the cutterhead is revolving.

As described in the aforementioned Larrouze et al. application Serial No. 284,604, when the thrust rams R are arranged in stairstep fashion the installation of new segments of tunnel lining L may be as follows. Because of the stairstep arrangement of the thrust ram cylinder supports the pistons of the rams R are always extended by varying amounts circumferentially around the tunnel when bearing against the last completely erected ring of lining L. Generally speaking, by virtue of the stairstep arrangement, symmetrically related to a vertical center line, only two of the pistons become fully extended at the same time (as a modification a group of three rams, either at the top or thebottom of the group, can be placed in the same lateral plane), while the remaining pistons still have some outward travel to go and may still be utilized for shoving the shield S and the cutterhead C forwardly. The first two piston rods to become fully extended are retracted while the remaining pistons are still shoving. As adjacent piston rods reach the end of their throw, they are retracted until voids large enough to accommodate a ring segment are formed on both sides of the tunnel (three pistons per segment being typical, for example, as indicated). Segments for forming the next ring of the tunnel lining L are then place in such voids while the remaining piston rods still continue to move the machine forward. As soon as the new segments are secured in place the retracted piston rods are again extended and used to help move the machine forwardly, and the just described procedure is repeated with respect to the next sets of extended piston rods, and then the next, and so forth up the two sides of the tunnel until the last segment, the key segment, is set in place;

The means used for transporting the tunnel lining segments from the tunnel entrance to the location within the reach of the segment erectors E1, E2 may be conventional per se, such as the overhead rail and carriage assembly 98 shown in FIG. 1, for example. In accordance with the usual practice, additional sections ofrail are added to said assembly 98 as is necessary to keep up with the forward progress of the tunneling machine.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the annular shaped housings 76, 82 which may also be termed rotors, are mounted for rotation onto erector tube 33 by means of suitable bearings 111i), 102, 1114, 1116 interposed between the inner wall portions 108, 110, respectively, of the. said housings 76, 82 and the erector tube 38. A large bull gear 112 (FIGS. 1, 9 and 10) encircles erector tube 38 between the housings 76, $2, and the said housings 76, 82 and 6 the erector mechanisms carried thereby are rotated about erector tube 38 by means of motor driven pinion gears 114, 116, respectively (FIG. 1) which mesh with the bull gear 112. In FIG. 10, relating to erector E2, the pinion gear 116 is shown carried by an outwardly bulging portion of housing 82 and driven by a motor 118 through reduction gears 12h, 122. A second such drive motor and set of reduction gears (not shown) is incorporated Within housing 76 and used to drive pinion gear 114.

Erector E2 has been selected by way of example to show constructional arrangement and detail of the boom, arm and segment grip portions of both erectors. In FIGS. 9-11 the boom 81 is shown to be rigidly attached at 124 to the housing 82 and to extend rearwardly therefrom in overhanging relationship to housing 76. A typical and therefore nonlimitive arrangement for mounting carriage 36 for lengthwise movement along boom 8%? is shown to include a pair of slides or rollers 126 extending outwardly from each side wall 128, 131 of carriage 36 to slide or roll in channel-like tracks 132, 134, or the like, affixed to or forming a part of the side walls 136, 138 of boom 81 Tracks 132, 134 extend substantially the full length of boom 8%) and their center lines are substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the erector tube 33. Referring now to FIG. 9, a rack bar 141% located on wall 136 above track 132 extends essentially the full length of boom 210 and substantially parallel to said track 132. A pinion gear 142. driven by motor 144 through suitable power transmission means 146 meshes with the teeth on rack bar 140 and is employed for moving carriage 86 back and forth along tracks 132, 1%. In the view of FIG. 9, the location of motor 144 and power transmission means 146 Within the the carriage 86 is depicted by phantom lines. Either one or two of the assemblies comprising rack bar 140, pinion gear 142, motor 144 and transmission means 146 may be used with each carriage with two such assemblies, one on each side of carriage 86, being illustrated in FIG. 10 by way of typical example.

The erector arm mechanism is characterized by what may be termed a bi-articulated erector arm extending between the carriage and housing 143 of the segment grip 94, said bi-articulate arm comprising a major arm member 1511 and a minor arm member 152, both of which are of a relatively heavy sturdy construction. At the top end of arm member 152 a pair of projections 154, 156 extend on opposite sides of a single projection 15$ constituting a portion of the carriage housing and a pin 160 extends through aligned openings in the said projections 1534, 156, 158 and is embedded at its ends in or otherwise supported by the sidewalls 128, of the carriage $6. The lower end of the minor arm member 152 is pivotally connected to an end of the major arm member 159 by a similar type knuckle joint, designated 162 in the illustration. The second end of the arm member includes a pair of projections 164, 166 located on opposite sides of housing 148 of segment grip 94. Aligned apertures are provided in said projections 164, 166 and a rod or pin 168 of slightly smaller diameter than said apertures extends therethrough and through an opening in housing 148 to form a pivotal connection at that location.

In and out movement of the segment grip 94 is substantially upon a radial line (e.g. the straight line designated 171 in FIG. 9) and is effected through movement of arms 15%, 152 by a motor 172 through rocker arms 174 and links 1'75. Rocker arms 174 are each affixed at one end to a shaft 178 extending laterally across the carriage 86. Shaft 17 3 and arms 174 are moved angularly between the up and down positions of the arms 174 shown by broken and solid lines, respectively, in FIG. 9. The drive is from motor 172 through a suitable right angle related gear reduction mechanism, indicated generally at 130, to a gear 182 which meshes with a small gear 184 affixed to the shaft 178. In the form of the invention illustrated, the gear reduction is of an order resulting in movement of arms 174 at about the rate of one-half revolution per minute. The outboard ends of the rocker arms 174 are each pivotally connected to one end of one of the links 176 which are in turn pivotally connected at their other ends to intermediate portions of the major arm member 150. Shorter arms 186 interconnect between underhanging portions 183 of the'carriage housing and the major arm members 159. At their lower ends the said short links 186 share the same pivot point with the lower ends of links 176.

As rocker arms 174 are rotated from their lower to their upper positions pivot point a on arm member 150 is moved along are x, determined by the length of links 186. At the same time pivot point b is moved along the arc y determined by the length of minor arm member 152, and segment grip 94 is moved inwardly substantially along the radial line 170.

A pair of ears 19-0 are rigidly connected to the opposite ends of the pin 160 which is atfixed to the housing portion 148 of the segment grip 94. Rods 192 interconnect between said ears 1% and lower end portions 194 of links 176 and serve to positively control the amount of rotation of segment grip 94 relative to arm member 150. As previously stated, the openings in projections 154, 156 of arm member 150 are slightly larger than the diameter of pin 16%, permitting relative rotation to occur between the segment grip 94 and said arm 150. The control rods 192 prevent the segment erector 94 from swinging free as it is moved in and out relative to the carriage 86.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a typical and therefore non-limitive embodiment of a grip mechanism, designated generally at G. Lining segment LS is shown (FIG. 10) to include outwardly tapering side flanges 196, 198 forming between them a cavity or innerspace of generally trapezoidal cross-section. A tapered head portion 200 of the segment grip 218 is adapted to fit within said cavity, and such head portion 26% carries a gripping mechanism consisting of a pair of diametrically opposed blocks 202, 204 pivotally connected at their inner ends to a swing arm 2%, suitably rotated by an automatically or manually operated drive mechanism contained within housing 148. The blocks 202, 204- are shaped to fit when extended into pockets 2118, 210 formed in flanges 1%, 198 of the lining segment LS. In operation, with swing bar 206 occupying its broken line position (FIG. 11) and the blocks 282, 2414 retracted, the head portion 200 is inserted into the inner cavity of a lining segment LS. Swing bar 206 is then rotated to its solid line position (FIG. 10), causing said blocks 202, 204 to be extended and to fit into pockets 208, 210, after which the lining segment LS can be picked up and otherwise handled by the erector E2.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the lining segment LS is brought into the tunnel by means of previously described mechanism 98 and deposited adjacent the rear end of the erectors E1, E2. As a segment LS is needed during the erection of a new ring of tunnel lining, one or the other of the erectors E1, E2 is rotated to a position placing its boom substantially over the supply pile of said segments SL. The carriage of such erector is then moved rearwardly with the arm mechanism of such erector retracted. When the segment grip of the erector is aligned with the inner cavity of a lining segment LS, it is extended and connected to such lining segment LS in the manner previously described. As the next step, the carriage is moved forward and the boom of the erector is rotated until it is opposite the void into which the segment SL is to be set. The arm mechanism is then again extended to place the segment SL into the void. Due to the twin erector arrangement of the present invention, while the said one erector is setting a segment LS into place, the other erector can be independently operating, such as in the act of picking up another segment for positioning at a location on the opposite side of the tunnel, for example.

Boom drive motor 118, carriage drive motor 144, and segment arm actuating motor 172 are preferably electric motors. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 12, a typical and therefore non-limitive power supply for such motors includes a slip ring SL attached to and properly electrically insulated from the rear side of annular member 212. The slip ring SL is suitably connected to a suitable power source, such as indicated generally at 214 in FIG. 12 by power lines including a control mechanism shown generally at 216. Properly insulated brushes 218 are carried by the respective rear end portions of booms 78, 80, which brushes 218 are connected by suitable power leads 220, 222, 224 to the electric motors 118, 144, 172, respective- 13/, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 11, the other terminal of each said motors being grounded.

As is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention is addressed, in the curved sections of the tunnel (either horizontal or vertical) and at locations where it is necessary to correct deviations from the designated line or grade, tapered rings are used in the tunnel lining with the side planes thereof forming a slight angle. This means that the segments of the lining L on the side of the tunnel representing the inside of the curve are relatively narrower than the segments on the side of the tunnel representing the outside of the curve. This also means that the thrust rams R on the outside of the curve must be proportionally extended a greater amount than the thrust rams on the inside of the curve to create large enough voids to accommodate the relatively thicker lining segment.

Let is be assumed for example that the tunneling machine of the present invention has been boring a straight section of tunnel and the center of rotation of the cutterhead C coincides with the longitudinal center of the previously dug and lined portion of the tunnel and with a vertical plane extending lengthwise of conveyor tube 40. Let it next be assumed that the next section of the tunnel is to curve horizontally to the right as viewed from above or behind the tunneling machine (FIG. 2, for example). The pistons of the rams R that are located on the lefthand side of the tunnel are extended a relatively greater amount during movement of the machine forward so that when said pistons are retracted large enough voids will be formed to accommodate the relatively thicker lining segments that will ultimately form the portion of the tunnel lining L extending on the outside of the curve. At the same time relative pivotal movement occurs between the shield assembly (comprising the shield S, the cutterhead support CS, the cutterhead C, erector tube 38 and the erector units E1, E2) and the conveyor tube assembly (comprising conveyor tube 46, hopper dome 42, hoppers H1, H2 and carriages 48) at the center of rotation of the universal mounting mechanism 48 due to the uneven movement of the thrust rams R, such center of rotation being marked by an enlarged cross and designated CP (center of pivot) in FIGS. 1 and 2. Relative movement also occurs between the shield and conveyor tube assemblies where the conveyor tube 40 enters the erector tube 38, and as previously indicated, connector 44 suitably in the form of a resilient collar interconnecting between the erector tube 38 and the conveyor tube 40 distorts when stressed laterally enough to accommodate for the relative movement which occurs between said tubes 38, :0. Of course, connector 44 could take a wide variety of forms differing from that illustrated. Conveyor 32, which is attached to the cutterhead support CS, overhands conveyor 36, which is mounted on extension 46. Thus the relative movement between tubes 33, 40 does not interfere with the operation of these two conveyors 32, 36.

In summary, from what has been described it will be apparent that the dual or twin erector feature of the present invention substantially increases the speed at which new rings of the tunnel lining can be erected; that the jointed arrangement feature of the tunneling machine enables such machine to be used for boring along a curved as well as along a straight line; that the arrangement of the erectors -E1, E2 on the erector tube 38 so that during turning said erectors E1, E2 retain their normal relationship to the thrust rams R and enable the said erectors E1, E2 to be continued to be used in their segment handling and placement functions while turning; and that the feature of using the same member, i.e. the erector tube 38, as a support of the erector units E1, E2 and as a portion of the compartment through which the mined material is removed from the region of the cutterhead rearwardly to a main conveyor greatly simplifies and better organizes the overall construction and arrangement of erector units E1, E2, the cutterhead support CS, the means for mounting and rotatably driving the cutterhead C, and the other mechanisms associated with the tunneling machine and located within the vicinity of the shield.

From the foregoing, various modifications, arrangement and adaptations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention is addressed, within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. A tunneling machine used in tunneling operations wherein a tunnel lining composed of abutting segments is erected generally in the Wake of the machine, said ma-- chine comprising:

(a) a support member in a tunnel to be lined; and

'(b) means for mechanically handling tunnel lining segments, said means comprising:

(1) an elongated boom extending generally parallel to the center line of the tunnel,

(2) means mounting said boom onto said support member for angular movement about said support member and about the centerline of the tunnel,

(3) grip means connectable to a segment of the tunnel lining, said grip means being situated radially outboardly of said boom, and

(4) means connecting said grip means to said boom, said means being reciprocally mounted on said boom for lengthwise movement thereof, and mounting the grip means for radial inand-out move-ment relative to said boom.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the said means mounting the boom onto the support member includes a rotor extending about said support member, means mountting said boom onto said rotor, a stationary bull gear encircling said supportmember, and drive means carried by said rotor for rotating said rotor and said boom, said drive means including a motor driven pinion gear in mesh with said stationary bull gear.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said means interconnecting between said boom and said grip means includes a carriage, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement lengthwise of the boom, and arm means, interconnecting between said carriage and said grip means, for moving said grip means between a retracted position wherein it is situated adjacent the carriage and an extended position wherein it is situated adjacent the side wall of the tunnel.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said arm means includes bi-articulate arm members and its movement of said grip means between said retracted and extended positions is along a substantially straight line related generally perpendicularly to the center line of the tunnel.

5. A tunneling machine useable in tunneling operations wherein a tunnel lining composed of abutting segments is erected generally in the wake of the machine, said machine comprising:

(a) a transverse support wall for spanning the interior of a tunnel to be lined, adjacent the tunnel face, said id support wall having an enlarged central opening formed therethrough;

(b) a tube of relatively large diameter connected at its forward end to the rear side of said support wall, about said central opening, and extending rearwardly of said support wall and said opening;

(c) means for moving mined material rearwardly through said opening and said tube from the face region of the tunnel; and

(d) means for handling tunnel lining segments, said means comprising:

(1) an elongated boom, extending generally parallel to said tube,

(2) means mounting said boom onto said tube for angular movement thereabout,

(3) grip means connectable to a segment of the tunnel lining, said grip means being situated radially outboardly of said boom, and

(4) means connecting said grip means to said boom, said means being reciprocally mounted on said boom for lengthwise movement thereof, and mounting the grip means for radial in-andout movement relative to said boom.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the said means.

mounting said boom onto the tube includes a rotor concentrically surrounding said tube, means connecting said boom to said rotor, a stationary bull gear encircling said tube, and drive means on said rotor for rotating said rotor and said boom, said drive means including a motor driven pinion gear in mesh with said stationary bull gear.

'7. The combination of claim 5, wherein said means interconnecting between said boom and said grip means include a carriage, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement lengthwise of the boom, and arm means, interconnecting between said carriage and said grip means, for moving said grip means between retracted position wherein it is situated adjacent the carriage and an extended position wherein it is situated adjacent the side wall of the tunnel.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the arm means include bi-articul-ate arm members and its movement of the grip means between retracted and extended positions is along a substantially straight line, extending generally perpendicularly to the centerline of the tunnel.

9. For use in tunneling operations involving the construction of a sectional tunnel lining, means for mechanically handling the sections comprising:

(a) a support member in a tunnel to be lined; and

(b) a pair of segment erectors, said segment erectors each including:

( 1) an elongated boom extending generally parallel to the centerline of the tunnel,

(2) rotor means mounting the boom onto the support member for angular movement thereabout in substantially the same path of travel as the boom of the other erector,

(3) grip means connectable to a segment of the tunnel lining, said grip means being disposed radially outboardly of said boom, and

(4) means connecting said grip means to said boom, said. means being reciprocally mounted on said boom for movement lengthwise thereof, and mounting said grip means for radial in-and-out movement relative to said boom.

10. The combination of claim wherein the rotor means of one segment erector is disposed forwardly of the other, and wherein the boom mounted by the forward rotor means includes a rearward portion that extends over the rearward rotor means, and the boom mounted by the rearward rotor means includes a vforward portion that extends over the forward rotor means, said booms being of substantially the same length, and having front and rear surfaces situated in substantially the same transverse plane.

11. The combination of claim 9, means includes a housing extending about said support member, means securing said boom to said housing, a stationary bull gear encircling said support member, and drive means on said housing for rotating said housing and said boom, including a motor driven pinion gear in mesh with said bull gear.

12. The combination of claim wherein said means interconnecting between said boom and said grip means include a carriage, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement lengthwise of the boom, and arm means, interconnecting between said carriage and said grip means, for moving said grip means between a retracted position wherein it is situated adjacent the carriage and extended position wherein it is situated adjacent the side wall of the tunnel.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the arm means includes bi-articulate arm members and its movement of the grip means between retracted and extended positions is along a substantially straight line related generally perpendicularly to the center line of the tunnel.

14. A tunneling machine useable in tunneling operations wherein a tunnel lining composed of abutting seg ments is directed generally in the wake of the machine, said machine comprising: a

(a) a transverse support wall for spanning the interior of a tunnel to be lined, adjacent the tunnel face, said support wall having an enlarged central opening formed through it;

(b) a tube of relatively large diameter connected at its its forward end to the rear side of said support wall, about said central opening, and extending rearwardly of said support wall and said central opening;

(c) means for moving mined material rearwardly through said opening and tube from the face region of the tunnel; and

(d) means for handling tunnel lining segments compris- (1) a pair of segment erectors, said segment erectors each including:

(a) an elongated boom extending generally parallel to the center line of the tunnel,

(b) rotor means mounting said boom onto said tube for angular movement thereabout, in substantially the same path of travel as the boom of the other erector,

(c) grip means connectable to a segment of the tunnel lining, said grip means being lo cated radially outboardly of said boom, and

((1) means connecting said grip means to said boom, said means being reciprocally mounted on said boom for movement lengthwise thereof, and mounting grip means for radial in-and-out movement relative to said boom.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said means wherein said rotor interconnecting said boom and said grip means includes a carriage, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement lengthwise of the boom, and arm means, interconnecting between said carriage and said grip means, for

moving said grip means between a retracted position wherein it is situated adjacent the carriage means and an extended position wherein it is situated adjacent the side wall of the tunnel.

16. The combination of claim 14, wherein said means mounting said boom onto the tubeincludes a rotor extending about said tube, a stationary bull gear encircling said tube, and drive means on said rotor for moving said rotor and said boom about said tube, including a motor driven piston gear in mesh with said stationary bull gear.

17. A shield type tunneling machine comprising:

(a) a shield including a generally cylindrical skin having a forward directed cutting edge, a tail section, and a transverse support means spanning the interior of said skin, with a central passageway extending through said support means;

(b) a first tube of relatively large transverse dimension having a front end connected to the transverse support means, in surrounding relationship to the central passageway, and extending rearwardly a substantial distance from said support means, said first tube also having a rear end;

(c) a second tube of smaller transverse dimension having a front end portion extending into the first tube, through its said rear end, and a rear end portion;

(d) mined material receiving means communicating with the rear end portion of said second tube;

(e) means mounting the forward end portion of said smaller tube onto the transverse support means within the enclosure of said first tube, and allowing pivotal movement of the transverse support means and the first tube relative to said second tube; and

(f) flexible coupling means interconnecting between the rear end of said first tube and an intermediate portion of said second tube, and permitting a substantial degree of angular movement between said first and second tubes.

18. The combination of claim 17, further including conveyor means extending from the vicinity of the central passageway in support means through both of said tubes to the rear end portion of said second tube.

19. The combination of claim 17 further including erector means for picking up a tunnel lining segment from a location adjacent the rear end of said first tube, then transporting said segment to the vicinity of the forward end of said first tube, and then moving said segment generally radially outwardly to a region relatively adjacent the tunnel section of the shield skin, and means mounting said segment erector means for angular movement about said first tube.

20. A tunnel machine useable in tunneling operations wherein a tunnel lining composed of abutting segments is erected generally in the wake of the machine, said machine comprising:

(a) a shield including a generally cylindrical skin having a forwardly directed cutting edge, a tail section, and a transverse support member spanning the interior of said skin, with a central passageway extending through said support member;

(b) an erector tube having a forward end communicating with the passageway in the support member, and extending rearwardly of the support member a substantial distance;

(0) segment erector means for picking up a segment of the tunnel lining from a location closely adjacent the rear end of the tube, then transporting said segment to the vicinity of the forward end of said tube,

and then moving said segment generally radially outwardly to a position closely of the shield skin;

(d) means mounting said segment erector means for angular movement about said erector tube;

(e) hopper means located rearwardly of said shields;

(f) a conveyor tube extending forwardly from said hopper means into the erector tube;

(g) means mounting the forward end of said conveyor tube onto the transverse support member, within the enclosure of the erector tube, and permitting pivotal movement of the shield and the erector tube relative to the hopper means and the conveyor tube;

(h) coupling means extending between the rear end of said erector tube and the conveyor tube at the region where the latter enters the former, said means permitting relative angular movement between said erector and said conveyor tubes; and

(i) conveyor means extending from the passageway in said support member through the erector and conadjacent the tail section 13 14 veyor tubes to the hopper means, for carrying mined References Cited by the Examiner material to the hopper means. D 21. The combination of claim 20, further including a UNITE STATES PATENTS rotary cutterhead forwardly of said support member, and 1478163 12/1923 Anderson means mounting said cutterhead for rotation on said 6 2128'172 8/1938 Warner et a1 6184 support members, said cutterhead having a front face, FOREIGN PATENTS forwardly directed cutter means on said front face, and 270 007 5/1927 Great Britain means for picking up the mined material and delivering it to the vicinity of the central passageway extending through the support member and onto the conveyor 10 CHARLES OCONNELL Primary Examiner means. JACOB SHAPIRO, Examiner. 

1. A TUNNELING MACHINE USED IN TUNNELING OPERATIONS WHEREIN A TUNNEL LINING COMPOSED OF ABUTTING SEGMENTS IS ERECTED GENERALLY IN THE WAKE OF THE MACHINE, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORT MEMBER IN A TUNNEL TO BE LINED: AND (B) MEANS FOR MECHANICALLY HANDLING TUNNEL LINING SEGMENTS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: (1) AN ELONGATED BOOM EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLELL TO THE CENTER LINE OF THE TUNNEL, (2) MEANS MOUNTING SAID BOOM ONTO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ANGULAR MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND ABOUT THE CENTERLINE OF THE TUNNEL, (3) GRIP MEANS CONNECTIBLE TO A SEGMENT OF THE 